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Ex-NRA chief explains background-check reversal

Former National Rifle Association president Sandy Froman said Thursday that the NRA has “changed its position” on universal background checks, not supporting the widely popular proposal because it “doesn’t work.”

“Yes, the NRA has changed its position. And the reason it’s changed its position is because the system doesn’t work. The [FBI’s National Instant Checks System] is not working now. We have to get that working before we can add any more checks to that system,” Froman said on CNN.

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She continued: “It’s already overburdened. Let’s get it working. Let’s make sure the 23 states that aren’t reporting the names of people who are mentally ill and have violent tendencies, let’s get those reported and into the system and then we can take a look.”

In 1999, following the Columbine High School shooting, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre testified before Congress saying that he would support a background check system.

“We think it is reasonable to provide mandatory, instant criminal background checks,” he said at the time.

But earlier this week during his testimony on the Hill, he said he did not support universal background checks and also questioned the effectiveness of NICS. Most Democrats and President Barack Obama say that NICS is limited because of a loophole that does not require all gun buyers to have a background check.

That wouldn’t be effective, Froman said.

“If you are a firearms dealer, whether you sell a gun at a gun store or a gun show, you have to do a background check on your buyer. So we’re talking about private people who might want to let’s say transfer a gun to their brother-in-law. You’re talking abut them having to do background checks,” she said.